29 Best Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park
Pack in all of the fun to your vacation with this list of the best things to do in Yellowstone National Park!
This incredible national park is located in parts of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, so you’ll have plenty of options as you explore this sprawling outdoor destination.
In Yellowstone, you’ll find mountains, hot springs, geysers, bison and elk (among other wildlife), winding roads, a picturesque canyon, a beautiful lake and so much more.
Yellowstone National Park is the first national park, and its 2.2 million acres offers up more to do than you could tackle in a lifetime.
Since visiting here for the first time can be daunting, this guide shares all of the best tours, activities, hikes, and destinations that are key to fully exploring Yellowstone.
As with all of my guides, everything here is family friendly, and was greatly enjoyed by my kids and me, but would also be fantastic for any visitor to the park.
The views from the Brink of the Lower Falls observation deck in Yellowstone National Park
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Yellowstone National Park: An Overview
Why visit Yellowstone National Park?
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Yellowstone National Park created the template for national parks around the world, and, today, it is still the standard by which many people judge the other parks.
The history of this place alone is worth visiting, as you will get glimpses into everything from the Native Americans who called this area home to the Lewis and Clark expedition to Teddy Roosevelt.
There are museums and interpretive centers throughout the park, as well as Fort Yellowstone near Gardiner, Montana.
If history isn’t your thing, there’s still plenty of reason to visit here.
It’s an outdoor adventurer’s paradise, with hiking trails and boat tours during the summer, and snowmobiling in the winter.
If you’re planning a family vacation here, the park has plenty of options for younger visitors like a cave where a dragon just might live, brilliantly colored hot springs, and hydrothermal features that look like they’re on another planet.
Read my complete guide to visiting Yellowstone National Park with kids here!
In short, Yellowstone National Park is like nowhere else on earth, and if you’re interested in outdoor recreation, wildlife, and/or geology, it needs to be on your list of places to visit.
Areas of the Park
Yellowstone National Park has several different sections, and it’s important to understand where each of the following activities is within the larger park map.
For more information on each area, and where they are in relation to each of the park’s access points, check out my guide to the entrances of Yellowstone National Park.
West Thumb and Grant Village
This is the area closest to the southern entrance to the park, and it’s where you’ll find two restaurants, sprawling hotel complex, small convenience store, and a lakefront boardwalk filled with hot springs.
Old Faithful Geyser Basin
This part of the park is the most well-known, thanks to the impeccable timing of Old Faithful geyser and the shockingly bright colors of Grand Prismatic Spring.
Here, you’ll find multiple lodges, hiking trails, waterfalls, and restaurants.
Norris Geyser Basin
It’s not the most well known of Yellowstone’s geyser basins, but it is very convenient if you’re looking to do just 1 day in Yellowstone from this part of the park.
Just 15 miles west of Norris Geyser Basin is the popular town of West Yellowstone.
Many visitors use this town as their gateway to the park, and the many hotels and restaurants there make for an excellent home base.
You’ll find the connecting road to Canyon Village here, as well as the Museum of the Park Ranger.
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone
Perhaps the best kept secret in the national parks system, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone typically isn’t even on people’s radar until they get on-site.
And yet, this gorgeous canyon is a highlight of the entire park, thanks to the multiple overlooks (including the notable Artist’s Point), trails on the rim and into the canyon, and scenic drives.
In this area is the Canyon Village complex, which offers up multiple restaurants, an interpretive center, gift shops, and the biggest hotel property in the park.
Fishing Bridge
A quieter part of the park, Fishing Bridge is the first major area of Yellowstone National Park you’ll encounter if you’re visiting from Cody, Wyoming, via the east entrance.
In Fishing Bridge, you’ll find a large RV campground, general store, gas station, and lunch counter.
Nearby Bay Bridge has another campground and a marina, where you can rent boats or take a ranger-led tour of Lake Yellowstone.
Mammoth Hot Springs
Just inside the northern entrance to the park, you’ll find Mammoth Hot Springs. This section of Yellowstone has a hotel, convenience store, visitors center, and a self-guided tour of what remains of Fort Yellowstone.
This area is best known for the upper and lower terraces of the hot springs, where you can see many hued, tiered hydrothermal features.
Tower-Roosevelt
Tower-Roosevelt is where you’ll find historic cabins and a lodge, horseback tours, and access to Lamar Valley, one of the best places to see wildlife in Yellowstone.
Nearby are Tower Falls and the easiest to access of Yellowstone National Park’s petrified trees, as well as several great hikes.
Below, I’m covering all of these activities so you can pick the ones that fit the best within your Yellowstone National Park itinerary, no matter how long you have in the park:
2 Days in Yellowstone National Park Itinerary: What to See, Do, and Explore
Perfect 5 Day Itinerary for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
The Ultimate 1 Week Itinerary for Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks
You’ll find details on exactly where each is located in the park, an approximate time outlay, and topics of interest.
What to Do in Yellowstone National Park: Best Activities and Tours
Stop by the visitors centers.
There are a handful of visitors centers in the park, so you can ask questions of the rangers, shop for a souvenir, or turn in your Junior Ranger booklet.
This is also where you can get your bearings on the park, see what trails are closed or under refurbishment, get maps of the park, and other important information.
The largest is in the Old Faithful area, with a huge viewing window that allows you to see the famous geyser from the information desk!
There is another at Mammoth Hot Springs in one of the old buildings repurposed from historic Fort Yellowstone. There’s a great display on wildlife on the lower level.
The interpretive center at Canyon Village has a great exhibit on the park’s hydrothermal features on the upper floor.
The fourth major visitors center is at Fishing Bridge down the street from the general store and campground entrance.
There are also smaller information stations at West Thumb and at the intersection of Highway 191 and 89 near the west entrance.
Go hiking.
My son near the trailhead of the Fairy Falls Trail
Did you know that the vast majority of visitors to Yellowstone National Park never get more than a couple of hundred feet from their cars?
While driving through the park is great for covering ground, you need to get out onto one of the many hiking trails to fully experience the beauty and scope of this national park.
Thankfully, there’s a trail here for just about any fitness level and age, so you’ll find everything from overnight, hike-in backcountry experiences to short, paved hikes that are easily accessible from major sightseeing areas.
There’s also a huge range of what you can see on the available hikes since Yellowstone has so many distinct ecosystems. There’s mountain hiking near Dunraven Pass, flat hiking to hydrothermal features near Norris Basin, and moderate hikes to lakes and streams near West Thumb.
If you want specific, family friendly suggestions, check out my guide to the best easy hikes in Yellowstone, which are perfect for beginning hikers and younger visitors!
Go wildlife spotting.
One of the highlights of visiting Yellowstone National Park is getting that first glimpse at the elk, bears, and bison that roam freely here.
While you can see wildlife all over the park, there are two areas that you are the most likely to see the best variety: Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley.
Lamar Valley is located between Tower-Roosevelt and the northeastern gate near Silver Gate, Montana. This is the bigger of the two wildlife-centric areas, and you might see large herds of bison on the rolling hills or roadway.
Hayden Valley is located between Canyon Village and Fishing Bridge on the lower eastern side of Grand Loop Road.
Both of the valley areas have roadside parking and scenic overlooks for you to get out of your car and (safely) look at the animals. Utilize these when it is possible as it helps keep traffic flowing.
Of course, if the bison herd decides to walk about the middle of the road, that’s a normal morning commute here at the park!
If you do get out of your vehicle to observe the animals, please stay a safe distance away from them.
To figure out what a safe distance is, hold your arm out while giving a thumbs up. If your thumb completely covers the animal you’re observing, you’re at a safe distance. If the animal’s body sticks on on either side, you’re too close and need to back up.
Whether you’re in these valleys or not, go slowly on all of the park’s roadways. There’s no telling when an elk, bear, or bison will decide to cross the road.
Let’s plan.
Get all of my family friendly vacation planning resources for Yellowstone National Park here!
They’re free and will help you with everything from where to camp to how to organize your itineraries.
Take in the views from Mount Washburn.
If you want to do a more challenging hike, or if you just want some of the most incredible views in the park, head up to Mount Washburn.
This iconic mountain is located on the upper eastern section of Grand Loop Road between Tower-Roosevelt and Canyon Village.
There is a scenic overlook off of the road where you can take in the valley below, or you can try to tackle the mountain in a full day hike.
If you do set off on the Mount Washburn hike keep in mind that much of the trail is exposed, and it is not the place you want to be in a lightning storm.
It’s also a challenging hike, so be prepared with ample food and water, appropriate clothing and gear.
If you’re not sure what hiking gear you need, you can check out some of my gear guides here:
See all of the colors of the rainbow at Grand Prismatic Spring.
Grand Prismatic Spring and the boardwalk as seen from the Overlook Trail
I think that all of the hydrothermal features at Yellowstone National Park are fascinating, but the one that’s the most eye-catching has to be Grand Prismatic Spring.
There are 4 pools here (from smallest to largest): the Opal Pool, the Turquoise Pool, the Excelsior Geyser Crater Pool, and the Grand Prismatic Spring.
All of these are accessible via the Grand Prismatic Spring Boardwalk, which allows you to walk beside each.
But, you can see even more of the colors from the observation desk on the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlok Trail.
This trail, which shares sections with the Fairy Falls Trail, is easy enough for nearly any visitor to do. From the deck, you’ll be able to get the full spectrum of colors, which are particularly brilliant on a sunny, clear day.
Parking at both areas is limited, so don’t be surprised if you have to wait for a parking spot at peak visitation times.
If you’d rather let someone else do the driving, you can always do a guided hike of Grand Prismatic Spring and Fairy Falls.
Set your watch by Old Faithful.
The Camping Kiddos and me in front of Old Faithful
If you know anything about Yellowstone National Park, it’s Old Faithful.
Guests have been keeping regular time by this geyser since at least 1870, which is when it was named and first officially timed.
Today, it’s remarkably accurate, to the point where you can estimate within about 20 minutes or so when the geyser will next erupt.
Download the NPS app, click into the Yellowstone National Park section, and see the next estimated time.
When it’s time for the show, find a spot on the circular boardwalk surrounding the geyser. It doesn’t matter where you stand as all of the spots have great views. (And with a gush of water topping 100 feet, you won’t be able to miss it!)
There are more than a dozen other hydrothermal features in this area, too, but none are quite so reliable as Old Faithful. They are worth a stroll if the weather is nice and you’d like to see other geyers.
In this area of the park, you have options for lunch or dinner at the 3 lodges surrounding Old Faithful. You can also rent bear spray here and shop for souvenirs.
Ride a horse or historic stagecoach to an outdoor dinner.
Get ready for a trail ride you’ll never forget!
Head to the Roosevelt Corrals at Tower-Roosevelt to start your cowboy-inspired adventure. When making your reservations, you will choose to ride one of the corral’s horses or board the historic stagecoach.
The horses are great with kids and new riders, and the trail hands are excellent at coaching you through what to do at each part of the ride.
If you have kids who don’t meet the age requirements for the horse ride, you’ll take a bright yellow stagecoach down the original stagecoach trail and meet the horse riders at the outdoor kitchen and tables.
Here, you’ll enjoy live fiddle music and singing while you tuck into steaks, beans, corn bread, fruit, and other delicious fare.
This was one of my kids’ favorite things that we’ve done in Yellowstone, so add it to the itinerary.
Read my complete review of the Old West Dinner Cookout and Trail Ride here.
Chase a waterfall (or a dozen).
The idyllic Tower Falls
I love a good waterfall, and I will go out of my way to see one.
If you feel the same, you’re in luck, as Yellowstone National Park has many beautiful ones.
Find Keplar Cascade between the West Thumb and Old Faithful areas. This waterfall is easily accessed from Grand Loop Road and doesn’t require any hiking other than walking to the observation platform.
Tower Falls is another easy to access waterfall. It’s in the Tower-Roosevelt area, and the cascade is a short walk from the parking area.
Undine Falls is located between Tower-Roosevelt and Mammoth Hot Springs, and it has a viewpoint directly from the small parking area.
Wraith Falls is close by Undine Falls, and requires a short, kid-friendly hike to get there.
The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone has two waterfalls: the Upper Falls and Lower Falls. You’ll get the best view of the Upper Falls from the first parking area you come to on the South Rim, while the Lower Falls is best seen from Artist’s Point.
You can get an even closer look at the Lower Falls from the Brink of the Lower Falls observation point, but know that the short hike has a lot of elevation change and the trek back to the parking lot is all uphill.
Gibbon Falls is close to the west entrance, making this a great stop for anyone visiting from West Yellowstone.
There are 2 viewpoints along a short, paved walkway that connects to the parking area.
Visit a dragon’s cave.
Dragon’s Breath
This is, hands down, my favorite hydrothermal feature in the entire park. (Given that the park has more than 10,000 of them, that’s saying something!)
Located in the Mud Volcano area between Canyon Village and Fishing Bridge, Dragon’s Mouth Spring is something you need to see to believe.
As you stand on the small wooden platform at the mouth of the small cave, you’ll hear what sounds like a huge dragon huffing just out of site. Steam billows out, and the force of it is so great that it makes the water in the cave spill out in waves.
Now, I’m a rational adult, and I know that dragons don’t exist, but this is the closest I’ve ever been to a high fantasy novel come to live.
Enjoy some local ice cream.
My son enjoys his ice cream at Canyon Village
What’s a vacation without a little treat?
Relax on a sunny day in the park with a cone or cup of Wilcoxson’s ice cream, which is made in Montana.
This regional dessert comes in dozens of flavors from classic chocolate and vanilla to specialities like Montana Moose Moss and Huckleberry.
You can get a scoop at the Fishing Bridge General Store or the Canyon Village General Store.
It makes for the perfect end to your meal or as a post-hike snack when you’re done with exploring the nearby Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
For more suggestions on what’s delicious (and what you can skip) in the park, check out my guide on where to eat in Yellowstone National Park.
Explore Lake Yellowstone with a ranger.
The wreck of the E.C. Waters as seen from the ranger-led boat tour
Did you know that dozens of hydrothermal features are hidden on the bottom of Lake Yellowstone? Or that an early park entrepreneur’s wrecked boat can still be seen?
Learn about these topics and much more when you cruise Lake Yellowstone with a park ranger as your guide.
These tours leave from Bay Bridge Marina, and carry you past Lake Yellowstone Hotel, out into the middle of the lake, and past the wreck of the E.C. Waters.
As you tour the lake, your ranger guide will share tales from the park’s past, information about the geology of the lake, and what current research is being done in this part of the park.
You might see birds, fish, or elk as you ride, so bring binoculars. We saw a bison at the marina before we even boarded the boat!
NOTE: Ranger-led programs are one of the unsung gems of the National Parks system, and I cannot encourage you enough to do one of these on your next NPS visit!
These free or low cost programs focus on a particular area or element of the national park you’re visiting, and we’ve learned about everything from the King’s Palace area of Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico to water rights and access at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
Always ask at the information desk at the visitors center about the upcoming programs.
Drive the Grand Loop Road.
Yellowstone National Park is so big that driving it is the only way to truly see all of the highlights.
You’ll either need to drive your own vehicle, rent a car or take a guided tour to complete Grand Loop Road.
For a car rental, I suggest DiscoverCars, which has free cancellations and 24/7 help once you’re on the road.
If you’re driving your own car or a rental vehicle, be sure to have the GuideAlong audio tour for Yellowstone going as you cruise around the park!
For less than the cost of lunch, you can have an excellent self-guided tour through the park that starts and stops automatically as you approach areas of interest. You’ll learn about everything from geology and wildlife to history and hiking options.
We love listening to these on our national parks visits, and we’ve learned so much in the process.
If you’d like a fully guided tour, you can take this 2 day tour that covers both the Upper and Lower sections of Grand Loop Road.
No matter how you see Grand Loop Road, you’ll find everything you could want from there, including hiking, Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, waterfalls, hotels, and more.
For a map and major points of interest, check out my driving guide to Grand Loop Road here.
Rent a boat.
Rental boats docked at Bay Bridge Marina
If you’d prefer to explore Lake Yellowstone on your own, either before or after the ranger-led tour (above), you can rent a boat from the Bay Bridge Marina.
You’ll be provided with life jackets and an overview of the boat’s features before you head out onto the lake.
Best of all, the pricing of the boat includes fuel, so you don’t have to worry about that.
You can rent by the hour with additional savings if you choose to boat for 2 or more hours.
Stay at a historic cabin.
Where there are many options for in-park accommodations, my favorite are the adorable historic cabins at Roosevelt Lodge in Tower-Roosevelt.
Many of these cabins were brought from other areas around the park, and the smaller ones are heated by buck stoves.
There’s a rustic feeling to those cabins that fits perfectly with the history of the place, and it’s a great option to rough it a little without committing fully to tent camping.
Cabin visitors get a free continental breakfast to go each morning, which is great for busy days in the park.
Read my complete review of the Roosevelt Cabins here.
Paddle down the Yellowstone River.
Go on a family friendly rafting trip to see Yellowstone from a new perspective!
The Yellowstone River has helped shaped the park’s landscape into what it is today, and the yellow rock along the riverbanks is what gives the park its name.
It’s only fitting that you spend some time on this river while you’re visiting here. Plus, it’s a lot of fun.
My recommended rafting trip is good for elementary aged kids and up, and there’s just enough rapids here to provide a thrill without being scary.
When you’re done, you can explore the cute town of Gardiner, see the Roosevelt Tower at the park’s north entrance or explore Mammoth Hot Springs.
Have lunch at a retro diner.
My kids and my parents waiting on lunch at the Canyon Fountain and Grill
There are many food options in the park, and not all of them are equally good.
While Yellowstone food, in general, is pricy, you get more bang for your buck at the two retro-styled diners in the park, the Canyon Fountain and Grill, and the Fishing Bridge Fountain and Grill.
These are located at, respectively, Canyon Village and Fishing Bridge. (They didn’t get creative with the names!)
At both of these diners, you will sit at long lunch counters with spinning stools and order from a simple but effective menu.
The black bean burgers are tasty, as are the regular burgers, chicken sandwiches and fries. My kids enjoyed the grilled chicken fingers, and I was glad to see a non-fried option for them on the kids’ menu.
Visit the Museum of the Park Ranger.
Without park rangers, the NPS couldn’t function.
Learn about the incredible men and women who’ve devoted their careers to helping build incredible things at Yellowstone and beyond.
This free museum is located near Norris Geyser Basin, and it’s a great add-on to any visit in the western area of the park.
There’s plenty of parking, and it’s usually not too busy.
See the otherworldly springs at Mammoth Hot Springs.
Given how many hydrothermal features there are at Yellowstone National Park, you might think that this is just one more to check off of a list.
But the hot springs, steam vents, and dormant geysers at Mammoth Hot Springs look different from the others in the park.
Instead of the bright blues and greens you see at places like Grand Prismatic Springs, the ones at Mammoth are bright white, yellow, orange and red.
There’s an upper and lower boardwalk area where you can view many of the formations up close, including the gigantic haystack-like Liberty Cap.
Near the upper boardwalk is also a short loop drive that takes you past even more hydrothermal features, including one with a patch of dead trees that would look at home in Namibia’s Deadvlei.
See basalt columns.
The Camping Kiddos at Sheepeater Cliffs
In Northern Ireland, there is a famous area called the Giant’s Causeway, where you can see hexagonal pillars next to sea.
If you don’t have plans to go to Northern Ireland any time soon, but you are going to Yellowstone, you’re in luck!
The same type of geological processes that created Giant’s Causeway also created basalt columns in Yellowstone National Park.
You can see these naturally formed (but still unreal looking) columns at Sheepeater Cliff between Norris Geyser Basin and Mammoth Hot Springs.
They’re down a small but marked road with few picnic tables at the base of the cliff.
You can walk on the columns, but be careful as they can slide and break under the right conditions.
See plopping mud pots at Artist’s Paint Pots.
The author’s son looks at the mud pots on the trail
This short hike is packed with interesting hydrothermal features and one of the best views of Mt. Holmes in the park.
Located between the west entrance and Norris Geyser Basin, Artist’s Paint Pots is a loop trail that takes you past iron red hot springs, milky blue springs, and a giant pool of plopping mud, also known as a mud pot.
The mud pots are created when subterranean hot springs warm up the surface above it, slowly turning the dirt into mud, which then begins to boil.
Tour Fort Yellowstone.
About 150 years ago, in the early days of the park’s administration, part of it was set aside as Fort Yellowstone.
Since Yellowstone was the world’s first national park, there was a lot of trail and error that went into figuring out how to run it appropriately.
The military was called in to help protect the fledgling park, as visitors flooded into the park, damaging the hydrothermal features, killing animals, and generally running amok.
Fort Yellowstone, located in what is now Mammoth Hot Springs, was the base for the enlisted men and officers who were stationed here to protect the park and figure out the best way forward for its conservation.
Today, the fort’s old buildings now serve as homes for the park’s employees, service buildings, and a visitors center.
You can take a self-guided tour of the old Fort Yellowstone grounds. You can find a brochure with information and stops near the visitors center. There’s a small suggested donation that you can place in the provided kiosk.
Explore West Thumb Boardwalk.
One of the many hot springs in West Thumb
While Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Spring tend to get most of the attention, West Thumb boardwalk is well worth your time.
Located near Grant Village and the southern entrance to the park, West Thumb Boardwalk offers up dozens of hydrothermal features.
You’ll find bright, clear blue hot springs, small bubbling mud pots, and the area’s most famous feature: Fishing Cone.
This petite geyser got its unusual name, according to legend, from trappers and early park tourists who would try to cook fish from Lake Yellowstone over its boiling hot vent.
No one’s doing that these days, but the little geyser on the banks of the lake makes for a fun stop along the walk.
This area is such a hot spot for hydrothermal activity that you’ll even find hot springs in the parking lot!
Kayak to hydrothermal features.
There are many ways to explore Lake Yellowstone, but this one is the best way to get up close to the lake’s steam vents is a guided kayak tour.
It’s fantastic for the entire family, as even babies can come along for the fun. If you’re looking for soft adventure on a beautiful day in the park, this is sure to help your family making some incredible memories.
Getting out onto the lake allows you to better get a scope for this part of the park, and see hydrothermal features that aren’t easily accessible on foot or by car.
Complete the Junior Ranger Program.
My kids show off their completed Yellowstone Junior Ranger booklets
If you’re a kid or a kid at heart, you can complete the Junior Ranger program at Yellowstone National Park.
This free program is such a fun way to dive more fully into the park, as you’ll fill out puzzles, trivia, coloring pages, and other activity pages.
You can pick up a booklet at any of the visitors centers (see above).
When you’ve completed the appropriate pages for your age group, head back to any of the visitors centers—it doesn’t have to be the one you originally got the booklet from—and let the ranger or volunteer on duty that you’d like your booklet reviewed.
Once your answers have been checked over, you’ll be officially sworn in as a Yellowstone Junior Ranger and you’ll receive a special badge for your efforts.
We’ve done dozens of these Junior Ranger booklets as we explore NPS sites, including the national parks, national monuments, national battlefields, and national historic sites.
For more information on the Junior Ranger program and other events in the national parks system, read over my guide to the national parks for beginners.
Take an open air bus tour.
Head out from West Yellowstone, one of the most popular access towns to the national park, to see the beautiful sites from an guided open-topped bus tour. (For colder days, you’ll still get the 180 degree views through the bus’ glass topper!)
This 1 day tour is an excellent option if you’re short on time, or just want someone else to drive so you can do all of the looking.
The tour is capped at just 15 visitors, so you will have plenty of time to ask questions. You can even help the guide customize your specific trip.
The price of the tour includes an assortment of snacks. You’ll have time to stop for lunch while you’re touring the Old Faithful area, or you can bring your own picnic.
Go camping.
A grazing bison at Bay Bridge Campground
With 11 campgrounds and over 2,000 campsites, Yellowstone National Park is an incredible camping destination.
You’ll find a front country campground in every major area of the park, including:
Canyon Campground at Canyon Village,
Mammoth Campground at Mammoth Hot Springs,
Fishing Bridge Campground at Fishing Bridge,
Norris Campground at Norris Geyser Basin, and
Tower Falls Campground near Tower-Roosevelt.
The campgrounds, despite having so many available sites, are extremely popular in the late spring and summer, so book ahead, especially if you’re looking to camp over a holiday or weekend during that time.
Zipline across Montana skies.
Located near the north entrance to the park, this family friendly ziplining tour is great for kids ages 6 and up!
While my kids love hiking, they also love a little bit of adventure off of the trail.
Mixing in a ziplining experience into your Yellowstone family vacation will keep things feeling fresh and will keep everyone happy.
Finding zipline tours that nearly every kid can do is a challenging, but this one lets kids as young as first grade join in on the fun.
Listen to a mountain roar.
Steam pours from the side of Roaring Mountain
Roaring Mountain is in the same category as Dragon’s Breath is: real but still very much like something out of fiction!
At Roaring Mountain, which you’ll find between Norris Geyser Basin and Mammoth Hot Springs, you can park at the base of the mountain and listen to what sounds like hissing and roaring coming out of the sides above you.
In reality, what you’re hearing are dozens of steam vents in the mountain, where the hot air and steam are being squeezed through rocks to form these sounds.
The steam vents also bellow what looks like smoke, to the point that the park gets calls about the place being on fire not irregularly.
This hydrothermal feature isn’t far from Sheepeater Cliffs (see above for more information), so be sure to do both when you’re in this area of the park.
Drive Beartooth Highway.
This suggestion is slightly cheating since Beartooth Highway starts about 10 miles outside of the park’s northeastern gates.
But, the drive is so pretty that I had to include it.
Take Highway 212 through Cooke City, Montana, up through Beartooth Pass and down into Red Lodge Montana. Along the way, you’ll get long range views of the Absaroka Mountains, including Beartooth Mountain.
The peak on Beartooth Mountain is what gives the highway and pass its name, and it does look a little like a sharp tooth.
You’ll also pass ski areas, hiking trails, and year round glaciers.
The highway is only open to cars in the warmest months, so save this for your itinerary only if you’re visiting in late June through September.
Here’s my complete guide to driving Beartooth Highway. I preferred the drive and scenic overlooks to Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway, which felt much more treacherous to navigate and had fewer places to stop and look at the views.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Yellowstone National Park
Any trip to Yellowstone National Park is sure to be memorable, and the more you can see and do of the park, the more you’ll be able to appreciate this incredible place.
One thing I love about this park is that there truly is something for everyone. If you are traveling with younger kids, there are easy boardwalks to linger along.
If you’re looking for some adventure, you can zipline, go river rafting, or do a longer hike.
If you’re into history, there are museums and interpretive centers.
If you love geology, you’ll find more hot springs, fumeroles, mud pots, and geyers here than you could see in a lifetime.
And, since the park is so big, you can access its offerings from 3 different states and multiple cities, including Gardiner, Montana; Jackson, Wyoming; West Yellowstone, Montana; and Cody, Wyoming.
No matter which of the excellent activities above you choose to add to your itinerary, Yellowstone National Park provides a vacation is your family will remember forever.
